"Cemeteries and various forms of memorial gardens are one of the defining characteristics of cities. For social, psychological and environmental reasons the cemetery provides a unique urban sanctuary and habitat for humans, flora and fauna." (Ken Worpole, 2001, comments on action plan draft)

1.    Aims

To develop a strategic approach to the protection, management and enhancement of the nature conservation value of cemeteries and churchyards.

	To respect the primary purpose of cemeteries and churchyards, which is that of burial and as a space to accommodate grieving visitors, whilst sensitively promoting their nature conservation value.
	To secure the involvement of all LondonÃs communities in the conservation of churchyards and cemeteries.

2.    Introduction

Churchyards are burial grounds associated with an identifiable church building. Some churches have also established extensions and detached burial grounds to provide additional space. Many of these Œchurch gardensà have since been turned into public gardens, and where information exists, will be included in the action plan. On becoming full, maintenance (but not ownership) of many Church of England burial grounds devolves to the Local Authority. Consequently, the Local Authority must defer to the Church in matters of management.

The majority of cemeteries are interdenominational burial grounds in municipal or private ownership found outside the confines of a religious meeting place.

A wide variety of habitats can be found in LondonÃs larger cemeteries, including grassland, woodland, scrub and occasionally wetland. Species associated with LondonÃs cemeteries and churchyards include woodland edge species such as bats, stag beetle, spotted flycatcher, tawny owl and song thrush, as well as holly blue, speckled wood and orange tip butterflies. Goldcrests often nest in cemeteries with many evergreen trees. Occasionally, uncommon plants such as the green-winged orchids found at Morden Cemetery may survive from the siteÃs pre-cemetery days.

The gravestones, monuments and walls of both cemeteries and churchyards provide an unusual Œmasonry habitatà which may host ferns, invertebrates and lichens. Fungi and mosses are also a feature of certain cemeteries and churchyards.

Cemeteries and churchyards make a significant contribution to the provision of urban greenspace in London, offering a quiet sanctuary for both people and wildlife. They therefore represent a real opportunity for new kinds of conservation and green space policy. Cemeteries can provide some of the functions of parks and, unlike parks, the reassuring presence of people is generally guaranteed. Some are visited by significant numbers of tourists, and they can be important to family history researchers.

But it needs to be remembered that the prime purpose of burial ground is for burial of the dead, their veneration and commemoration, and many people desire memorials to be maintained with readable inscriptions.

Contact

The Lead for this habitat is the Greater London Authority.

churchyard © Mathew Frith

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